Exclusive | Cracker Barrel shares soar on improved customer satisfaction, but cook warns chain has started to cut corners

Cracker Barrel’s push to improve its cooking and drop its failed “woke” rebranding have brought back customers and boosted the company’s stock, but a veteran cook told The Post the chain is sliding back to the cost-cutting practices that got it in trouble last year.Earlier this week, the 56-year-old company reported improved financial results that sent its shares soaring by as much as 35%.The southern-style chain lost customers in droves last year when it began reheating food like its popular buttery biscuits in microwaves — and attempted a “woke” rebrand that alienated longtime diners.CEO Julie Felss Masino went on to cut ties with the marketing firm behind the rebranding campaign and brought back a former vice president for menu strategy, the Wall Street Journal reported.She also promoted a longtime executive to oversee store operations.This week, the company lifted its full-year outlook for revenues to $3.27 billion to $3.3 billion, up from $3.24 billion to $3.27 billion.But the turnaround could flounder if the company tries to cut corners in the kitchen — again — said a cook who didn’t want their name published out of fear of losing their gig.“They are reheating some food including rice and meatloaf in the microwave again,” fretted the employee.

“That could be the beginning of loosening up our higher standards.”The worker also described a recent mandate from supervisors to serve day-old seasoned rice that didn’t sell out. Cracker Barrel sets aside some refrigerated meatloaf orders to use in its chili dishes, but if they don’t get used for the chili, supervisors have instructed the kitchen staff to reheat them for the dining room, the cook said.“We were told if they don’t get used for the chili, it’s OK to reheat them in the microwave,” and send them out to customers, the employee told The Post.The company’s mantra, the cook said, is “less work, more often” — meaning staff should find ways to cook larger volumes o...